Multi award-winning contemporary circus company, UPSWING, recently visited Dovecote Manor Care Home to introduce residents to their participatory style of circus performance and train the team to deliver similar sessions themselves.
Care home teams across the Excelcare family are currently working with UPSWING to learn how to deliver engaging circus-style activities with residents that are adaptable to suit people of different physical abilities. Once fully trained, this will mean team members can confidently host their own circus-style shows and show residents how to do some basic tricks and techniques, in turn benefitting their health and wellbeing.
The morning started with UPSWING hosting their training with the team. Most of the movements they showed the team were chair-based, meaning residents of all abilities can take part. The team from UPSWING used a variety of colourful props in their training class to show how team members can make the sessions exciting and multisensory for residents. These props included hats, peacock feathers, juggling balls and a parachute, all of which are intended to make the movements more interesting and purposeful for the people taking part. Team members then had the chance to practice these movements themselves, so they could show others the correct techniques.
In the afternoon, UPSWING hosted an interactive circus show with the people living at Dovecote. This gave the team the opportunity to see how UPSWING delivers its shows and how residents respond both physically and emotionally.
Arthur who lives at Dovecote said, “I enjoyed today’s party,” which was wonderful feedback to receive, as it showed residents found the session to be so enjoyable, they didn’t realise they were exercising!
As the course continues, team members will learn more about delivering accessible circus activities and be able to witness the benefits they have for the people who live at Dovecote,